2013 WEST TEXAS FOOTBALL: Title up for grabs in 2-5A

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Dual-threat quarterback Lorenzo Joe (12) returns for Abilene Cooper, which enters the 2013 season as the favorite in District 2-5A but must break in new players at receiver and running back.

Tommy Metthe/Abilene Reporter-News

For the first time in recent memory, the Abilene High Eagles are not the prohibitive favorite in District 2-5A.

The juggernaut Steve Warren built from the ground up appears to have a few chinks in the armor, returning just three starters on each side of the ball.

With an opening at the top, both Abilene Cooper and Central believe they have what it takes to unseat the champ.

Led by Texas commit Lorenzo Joe at quarterback, Cooper was beaten on a last-second play by the rival Eagles last year and needed a last-second stand to hold off Central late in the season.

The Bobcats fought off Midland Lee in the season finale to punch their playoff ticket in 2012, and 15 returning starters have Central aiming high.

Permian begins the Blake Feldt era and is expected to throw the ball more, while Midland Lee also will debut a new pass-happy offense as Cliff Watkins takes over as offensive coordinator after moving over from Stephenville.

Here is a closer look at the district race, with last year's records in parentheses. Teams are listed in order of projected finish.

Abilene Cooper

(9-3, 6-2 in District 2-5A)

The Cougars will rely on Joe and an experienced offensive line to guide the way for their offense. Cooper will have to break in new receivers for the dual-threat signal-caller and find a suitable replacement for Kerry Sims, who shined in the backfield in 2012.

Trey Dye, a BYU commit, is the top returning receiver with just 16 catches and also could figure into the running game. Cooper also returns one of the district's best defenders in safety Cordell Dorsey, who had 81 tackles and 10 sacks last year.

Cooper looked to have rival Abilene High beaten after a score with 2:17 to play in their crosstown showdown, but Evin Abbe directed the Eagles on a 72-yard drive that was capped by a touchdown with three seconds to play.

It was one of just two district losses for the Cougars last year, who will start 2013 in the favorite's position.

Abilene High

(12-1, 8-0 in District 2-5A)

With just two district losses dating all the way back to 2004, the Eagles find themselves in a strange position — not the preseason favorite.

Warren's bunch brings back six starters — three on each side of the ball — and have to replace all their skill-position players except receiver Douglas Wilson.

Derek Scott is pegged to replace the departed Abbe at quarterback, but the Eagles need to find help in the backfield and more receivers.

On top of the dearth of experienced returnees, the Eagles JV was just .500 last year.

Signs point to a down year for the Eagles, but respect keeps them toward the top of the district.

Central

(6-5, 5-3 in District 2-5A)

Some already are comparing this team to the 2011 Central Bobcats that won the school's first outright district title in five decades.

The Bobcats have a slew of returnees on both sides of the ball, including nine on the defense alone and an intact secondary.

Central will have Mickey Scott back for his senior year at quarterback after combining for 2,900 yards and 31 touchdowns through the air and on the ground. Two of his favorite targets return in slot receivers Nick Barron (50 receptions, 573 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Landon Sawyer (56-646, 10 TDs).

The offense will have to find a replacement for running back Jordan Charles, a three-year starter, but the defense is loaded. Seven of the top eight tacklers return from last year, including safety Luke West (100 tackles, 3 INTs) and linebacker Davis Martin (99 tackles, 2 forced fumbles).

Both are part of a strong junior core who saw action as sophomores.

The Bobcats expect more than just getting back to the postseason — they believe they can contend for a title.

Midland Lee

(6-4, 5-3 in District 2-5A)

Though the Lee Rebels lost all-district running back Jason McAfee and quarterback Talor Nunez, hopes are high that they won't miss a beat.

Talented junior Aron Dobbins steps in for McAfee, who got a trial run in Week 10 last year against Central when McAfee was out with a concussion.

The Rebels are hoping that new offensive coordinator Watkins will bring with him the success he had at defending 3A state champion Stephenville. Junior Zyan Burditt is expected to get the keys to Lee's new offense, which likely will be more aerial.

After missing out on the postseason with their regular-season ending 28-21 loss to the Bobcats, the Rebels are hoping the infusion of juniors from a 10-0 JV team, joining 10 returning starters, will pay dividends.

Odessa Permian

(5-6, 5-3 in District 2-5A)

After Gary Gaines' second stint in Odessa came to an end last year, Feldt takes over at Permian, coming from Buda Hays.

Feldt won a 2A state title at Pilot Point in 2009 and hopes to turn the tide at Permian, which made the playoffs last year but ended with a losing record — including two losses to El Paso foes.

Heath Wood, long thought to be a future star, finally will take the reins at QB after Jack Wilkins' graduation.

Permian also lost running back Jorrion Wilson, who suits up at Harvard this fall, but is looking at Justin Hall and Mikorban Fields to share the load in the backfield.

In a tight district, the difference between third and sixth could be one game or even a tiebreaker.

Midland High

(5-5, 4-4 in District 2-5A)

The Bulldogs finished one game out of a three-way tie for second place in District 2-5A last season and almost punched their ticket to the postseason with a near-miss against district heavyweight Abilene High.

Midland High fell 28-21 in the regular-season finale at Shotwell and ended its season at .500. The Bulldogs have skill-position athletes returning in running backs Lance White and Xzavier Martinez along with receiver Deandre Goodley but need to find a replacement for quarterback Conner Beck.

Sam Grimes, who was in the battle with Beck to be the signal-caller last season, is the favorite to earn the starting duties.

The Bulldogs hope their subvarsity success and getting youngsters experience late in the season will produce a return trip to the postseason.

Amarillo Tascosa

(1-9, 1-7 in District 2-5A)

Tascosa has a year in the Flexbone, and the Rebels feature offensive holdovers in Tucker Davidson, Austyn Beasley and Beau Gray to lead the way on offense.

The Rebels won just one varsity game in 2012 but will get reinforcements from a JV that went 6-4.

Linebacker Isaiah Lomelli will be counted on to lead the defense, which has eight starters returning and likely will be the strength of the team.

Head coach Ken Plunk needs the offense to succeed with another year in the Flexbone, joining an experienced defense after Tascosa averaged just 12.1 points last year.

The Rebels annually have some of the best athletes in the district but have yet to see it translate into success in the expanded 2-5A.

Odessa High

(1-9, 1-7 in District 2-5A)

The Bronchos return nine offensive starters after being forced into a youth movement last year because of injuries and attrition.

C.J. Eddison returns at running back after rushing for 882 yards and five touchdowns as a junior and will be joined in the backfield by either senior Ryan Martinez, who started parts of last year, or sophomore Nick Adams.

Junior Dayton Dennard, who played quarterback for the final six games of 2012, is being moved back to defense, where he is expected to start at linebacker, joining Edgar Contreras.

Three-year letterman Trenton Laake should help on offense as well.

The strong junior class gives Odessa High hope for improvement, but there are a lot of teams to leap in the top two-thirds of 2-5A.

Lubbock Coronado

(2-8, 1-7 in District 2-5A)

Coronado is thinking positive about 2013 because of the return of a pair of players who did not suit up last year.

The Mustangs will get back 6-6 defensive end Duncan Douglas, who missed his junior season because of a torn ACL, and his 6-5 position-mate Devondric Meadows, who will rush from the opposite end.

Meadows sat out the 2012 football season to focus on basketball but returns for his senior season.

With Isaiah Tates, Robert Lee and Nick Bartley returning in the backfield, the Mustangs think they can improve on last year's two-win campaign.